Variable flame gas lighter



March 2 1967 YOSHIO KANAMARU 3,3@9,902

VARIABLE FLAME GAS LIGHTER Filed Feb. 14, 1966 INVENTOR YOSHIO KANAMARU ATTOR N EY5 United States Patent Ofitice 3,3@9,9fl-Z Patented Mar. 21, 1957 3,309,902 VARIABLE FLAME GAS LIGHTER Yoshio Kanamaru, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Kanamaru Shoten, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 527,205 Zlaims priority. application Japan, Mar. 5, 1965, til/12,415; Jan. 21, 1966, 41/4,369 4 Claims. (Cl. 67-4) The present application relates generally to application Ser. No. 467,367, filed June 28, 1965, and entitled Variable Flame Gas Lighter, which issued April 12, 1966 as Patent No. 3,245,234.

The present invention relates generally to a gas fueled lighter embodying variable-flame feature enabling convenient lighting of cigarettes, cigars and pipes. More particularly, the present invention is designed to improve flame deflection technique with construction characterized by low cost of manufacture and minimal space requirements around burner area.

As is well known, smokers generally find it quite diflicult to light pipes with ordinary gas or liquid fueled cigarette lighters because of the necessity to hold such conventional lighters upside down. With the use of the present lighter construction, the necessity of holding the lighter upside down is eliminated, as the flame may be selectively positioned either vertically (cigarettes and cigars) or horizontally (pipes). In this manner, pipes may be easily lighted without twisting the hand or depositing carbon on the lighter, as frequently occurs when conventional cigarette lighters are used by pipe smokers. Although the present invention provides for pipe lighting, the flame is normally positioned for use with cigarettes and cigars. Simplicity of construction and adaptability for use in lighting either cigarettes, cigars or pipes distinguish the present invention from previously patented lighters. The minimizing :of space requirements of flame deflecting construction, reduction of manufacturing costs and promotion of smoother flame deflection distinguish the present invention from applicants prior development of application Ser. No. 467,367, now Patent No. 3,245,234.

Acccordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide gas lighters with flexibility enabling their use with cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide gas lighters with a variable flame feature enabling the convenient lighting of cigars, cigarettes and pipes characterized by simplicity in construction, low cost of manufacture and minimum space requirements at burner area.

Still another object of the present invention is to minimize space requirements of flame deflecting construction permitting incorporation Within automatic lighters.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawin gs, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in cross-section illustrating a first embodiment of flame deflecting invention promoting horizontal pipe lighting flame;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of the first embodiment of invention illustrating vertical flame for cigarette and cigar use;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of a second embodiment of invention promoting vertical flame for cigarette and cigar use; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of second embodiment of invention illustrating horizontal flame for pipe lighting.

At the heart of the present invention is the realization that changes in direction of properly depressurized jetting gas fuel, either ignited or not, may be achieved in lighters by employing relatively simple flame deflecting systems.

More importantly, provision is made in the present invention for minimizing the space required around burner area necessary to promote flame deflection, while reducing construction cost substantially. Finally, change of direction of gas is accomplished with minimum obstruction.

As the present flame deflecting invention is envisioned for use in virtually any type of gas fueled cigarette lighter, no eflort will be made to describe such conventional constructions, the reference numeral 10 generally designating burner nozzle structure mounted on lighter body 11, as in all such constructions. Of course, for further information reference is made to applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 467,367, now Patent No. 3,245,234, as well as such US. patents as Nos. 2,419,889 and 3,111,015, for example.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, burner nozzle 10 is provided with bore 12 leading to a conventional fuel reservoir (not shown) located within lighter body 11, as well as bore 16 generally perpendicular to bore 12 and intersecting same. The top 18 of humor nozzle 10 is generally conical in configuration, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter.

Located outside burner nozzle 10, in partially surrounding and vertically sliding relationship, is outer cylindrical member 20. As seen, the inside top portion 22 of cylindrical member 20 is also conical in configuration and complementary with respect to top 18 of burner nozzle 10, such that when cylindrical member 20 is moved downwardly by any conventional mechanism, such as lever 24 for example, surfaces 18 and 22 abut precisely. Located within the side of cylindrical member 20 is bore 26 so positioned as to communicate directly with bore 16 of nozzle 10 as cylindrical member 20 is depressed downwardly its full extent. In this position, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 1, horizontal flame 28 will emerge from bore 26. Of course, top surface 22 of cylindrical member 20 prevents gas from emerging vertically from bore 12 of nozzle 10. In the position of FIG. 1, the horizontal flame 28 enables ease in pipe lighting, as flame 28 may be directed downwardly within bowl of pipe, Without twisting lighter in hand or holding same upside down.

As outer cylinder 20 is moved upwardly, as seen in FIG. 2, communication between bores 16 and 26 is disrupted while communication between bores 12 and 30 is established. In this manner, vertical flame 32 is produced for cigarette and cigar lighting.

The second embodiment of invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which outer cylindrical body 20, slidably mounted on burner nozzle 10, is equipped with L-shaped bore 34 for emitting vertical flame 32 and bore 26 which functions as outlet for horizontal flame 28. Within the walls of burner nozzle 10 and intersecting central bore 12 is located bore 16' which function to conduct gas from within burner nozzle 10 to either bore 26 or bore 34, as desired. That is, when outer cylindrical member 20 is in its lowermost position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, bores 16' and 34 are aligned and vertical flame 32 emerges from outer cylindrical body 20 for cigarette or cigar lighting. For pipe lighting, as seen in FIG. 4, the upward movement of outer cylindrical body 20 aligns bores 16' and 26 causing horizontal flame 28 to emerge from outer body 20.

To prevent dislocation of outer cylindrical member 26 from its proper relativeposition with respect to burner nozzle 10, a furrow 36 may be employed along the side wall of burner nozzle 10 corresponding to protrusion 38 located on the inside wall 40 of outer cylindrical member 20. Additionally a small bore 42 may be employed within the walls of outer cylindrical member 20 for the purpose of ventilating.

Thus, the flame deflecting systems of FIGS. 14 may be employed within virtually any gas fueled lighter construction. Of particular significance is the relatively smallv space surrounding burner nozzle 10 required by outer flame deflecting body 20. Now, with the use of the present invention, flame deflecting technique may be applied to the so-called automatic lighter in which a single action lifts up a snuffer-cap and ignites flame. As such automatic lighters greatly restrict available area around burner nozzle, the compact design of the present invention is of the utmost importance.

As the present invention is directed only towards the relationship of burner nozzle 10 and flame deflecting body 20, no effort has been made to disclose obvious refinements that practical application may dictate. As the two embodiments of invention permit horizontal pipe flame either when body 20 is in the upwardmost position (FIGS. 34) or in lowermost position (FIGS. 1-2), the desirability of resiliently biasing flame deflecting body 20 may be presented. Similarly, gaskets and other conventional structure may be employed as desired. In any event, such conventional structure is certainly within the scope of the skilled artisan.

Manifestly, alternative construction and varying design of flame deflecting technique may be employed without departing from the scope of invention as defined in the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

1. In a lighter of the type having a reservoir constructed to hold gas fuel under pressure and an ignition mechanism, the combination therewith of a flame diverting system, comprising:

A. a burner nozzle mounted upon said lighter in close proximity to the ignition mechanism for transporting the gas fuel from the reservoir to point of ignition, said nozzle including first and second intersecting passageways;

B. a deflecting body covering the top portion of said nozzle, said deflecting body including first and second passageways terminating outwardly therein in first and second openings located generally perpendicular to each other; and

C. means for moving said deflecting body relative to said nozzle between first and second positions such that when said first passageways of both said nozzle and said body are aligned in said first position, the ignited gas is directed from said nozzle generally vertically for cigarette lighting while when said second passageways of both said nozzle and said body are aligned in said second position, the ignited gas is directed from said nozzle generally horizontally for pipe lighting.

2. A flame deflecting system as in claim 1, wherein said first passageway of said nozzle runs generally axially therethrough terminating at the top thereof in a generally vertically disposed opening while said second passageway of said nozzle is disposed generally perpendicular to said first passageway terminating on the side thereof in a generally horizontally disposed opening, said first passageway of said deflecting body being located within the top of said body and being offset from said first passageway of said nozzle in a plane generally parallel thereto while said second passageway of said deflecting body is located Within the side thereof and runs generally perpendicular therethrough.

3. A flame deflecting system as in claim 1, wherein said first passageway of said nozzle runs generally axially therethrough terminating below the top thereof while said second passageway of said nozzle is disposed generally perpendicular to said first passageway terminating on the side thereof in a generally horizontally disposed opening, said first passageway of said deflecting body being located generally parallel to said first passageway of said nozzle and terminating downwardly in an offset portion opening generally perpendicular to the remainder of said first passageway of said deflecting body while said second passageway of said deflecting body is located within the side thereof and runs generally perpendicular therethrough.

4. A flame deflecting system as in claim 1, wherein the top of said nozzle and said top portion of said deflecting body are complementary in configuration such that when in abutting relationship flow of gas between said first passageways is disrupted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,346 9/1910 DArsi 674 1,076,583 10/1913 Klugel 674 1,757,231 5/1930 Battey 67-7 1,838,438 12/1931 Nichols 239-446 2,318,327 5/1943 Phillips 677.1 2,549,726 4/1951 Van Toll 67-7.l X 2,672,038 3/ 1954 Burchett 677.l 2,827,782 3/1958 Gruber 67--7.1 3,245,234 4/1966 Kanamaru 67--7.1

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIGHTER OF THE TYPE HAVING A RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD GAS FUEL UNDER PRESSURE AND AN IGNITION MECHANISM, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A FLAME DIVERTING SYSTEM, COMPRISING: A. A BURNER NOZZLE MOUNTED UPON SAID LIGHTER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE IGNITION MECHANISM FOR TRANSPORTING THE GAS FUEL FROM THE RESERVOIR TO POINT OF IGNITION, SAID NOZZLE INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND INTERSECTING PASSAGEWAYS; B. A DEFLECTING BODY COVERING THE TOP PORTION OF SAID NOZZLE, SAID DEFLECTING BODY INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PASSAGEWAYS TERMINATING OUTWARDLY THEREIN IN FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS LOCATED GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER; AND C. MEANS FOR MOVING SAID DEFLECTING BODY RELATIVE TO SAID NOZZLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS SUCH THAT WHEN SAID FIRST PASSAGEWAYS OF BOTH SAID NOZZLE AND SAID BODY ARE ALIGNED IN SAID FIRST POSITION, THE IGNITED GAS IS DIRECTED FROM SAID NOZZLE GENERALLY VERTICALLY FOR CIGARETTE LIGHTING WHILE WHEN SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAYS OF BOTH SAID NOZZLE AND SAID BODY ARE ALIGNED IN SAID SECOND POSITION, THE IGNITED GAS IS DIRECTED FROM SAID NOZZLE GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY FOR PIPE LIGHTING. 